PABA, or para-aminobenzoic acid, is used in many different ways. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has approved it for use in concentrations up to 15 percent. It can be found naturally in such foods as liver, wheat germ, bran and molasses.
Vitamin
PABA at one time was named vitamin B-x due to the ability to serve as a provitamin for certain bacteria. When it was studied and found that humans do not synthesize folate from PABA, it was deemed not to have vitamin activity and was ceased from being called a vitamin, according to Florida State University. There are some Internet sites that still refer to para-aminobenzoic acid as a vitamin.
Vitiligo Treatment
PABA protects the skin from UV radiation and harmful effects from the sun. This ability helps PABA work as a treatment of vitiligo, or a skin condition where there is discoloration, according to Florida State University. Vitiligo has spreading sections of depigmentation. PABA is a traditional remedy for vitiligo and has not had studies to conclude that it is effective. Always seek the advice of a doctor before using any home remedy.
Sunscreen
Para-aminobenzoic acid absorbs UV rays from the sun and reduces the chance of sunburn. It also lessens the risk factor for skin cancers such as melanoma, according to Cosmetics Info online. It works as a sun blocker by converting UVB sun rays into infrared radiation, or heat, which is a safer, less damaging, form. It was more popular in the 1970s and has today fallen out of favor for use due to the chance of contact dermatitis in some individuals, according to Smart Skin Care online. PABA sunscreens need to be applied well in advance of sun exposure to attain sun blocking results.
Dermatitis Herpetiformis Treatment
A skin condition that mainly affects 20- to 40-year-olds, according to the University of Michigan Health Systems, dermatitis herpetiformis is a rare food allergy that manifests in rashes. There can be burning and blistering to the skin. PABA has been a traditional remedy for these rashes when they occur. There are not conclusive clinical trials that show PABA effective for dermatitis herpetiformis, and a doctor should be consulted before using it as a home remedy.
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